Voice of the Scout - In the coming weeks, all Scout volunteers with email addresses in the Scout MyBSA system will receive a email survey for the Voice of the Scout. The Voice of the Scout is an online survey that will directly engage our members, parents, and volunteers to gain feedback on their Scouting experience.

Opinions are anonymous and this information will be used by the Greater Alabama Council to offer better solutions to unit service and program delivery in the council.

If your email is not on file with your registration or you wish to check and make sure your address is correct, please email Heather Mayfield at hmayfield@1bsa.org with your information.

Sometime in the next few weeks, you're going to get an email from the BSA's National Office called "Voice of the Scout". This email will contain a link to a short (about 8 questions) survey.

This is not spam. This is the Boy Scouts of America's attempt to ask you what you think.

Voice of the Scout is a new survey program that has just one goal: find out what our customers (you) think is right with the Scouting program and what can be improved. If you don't answer the survey, BSA won't know what you want changed.

Thanks in advance for sharing your opinion, and for everything you do to support Scouting. If you have any questions about Voice of the Scout, please contact Brent Pritchard at 205-970-0251.

2013 JAMBOREE BAND - The Jamboree Band is now forming and is looking for musicians. The staff band will supply music for ceremonies, events, concerts, arena shows, and will entertain the many thousands of Scouts and visitors to the 18th National Jamboree. Repertoire will include popular and patriotic music, marches, and pep band tunes. Scout/musicians who can double on set, guitar, bass and keyboard are needed for the 16 piece jazz band. Scouts and Venturers ages 16 - 25 may apply. Adults (26 and up) may apply, however initial preference will go to youth staff. For information about the band and how to apply, please visit jamboband.org or feel free to email the director George.Pinchock@villanova.edu.

We now have in stock the Welding Merit Badge emblems and the Welding Merit Badge Pamphlets. Come by and check them out.Birmingham Scout Shop will have the Blastcar event on March 24, 2012 from 11am until 1 pm. Call 205-967-5954 for more information. The marketing event for the Scout Shop for March 16 thru March 22, 2012, will be a BOGO on Nylon (only) shirts, pants and shorts.Please check with a Sales Associates for size availability and restrictions.

ROCK SHOW - The Alabama Mineral and Lapidary Club will be Hosting their 39th annual rock, gem, mineral and lapidary show June 2 and 3, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Tannehill Ironworks State Park. Admission to the show is free with paid admission to the park. There will be demonstrations, exhibits, children’s activities and vendors from all over the Southeast.

WOOD BADGE 2012 - Greater Alabama Council will conduct two Wood Badge courses this year. The first will be Friday/Saturday/Sunday April 13-15 and again April 27-29. But, if it is just too hard to get off work on Fridays, the fall course will be on a Saturday/Sunday/Monday in September, and then again in October. The first weekend of both courses will be held at Camp Comer, and the second weekend at Camp Westmoreland. Click here for information/registration flyer

Be Ready Camp- It is with great pleasure that Serve Alabama (Governor’s Office of Faith-Based & Volunteer Service) and the Alabama Department of Homeland Security (AL DHS) announce the seventh annual Be Ready Camp. This camp provides an opportunity for sixth graders across Alabama to become Youth Preparedness Delegates, receive a commendation from Governor Robert Bentley, and carry the message of preparedness and safety to their schools, communities and families.

This camp has been featured in international Homeland Security journals and received national media attention, including coverage for the Cable News Network (CNN). Additionally, the camp is considered a best practice by the White House and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Click Here For More Info

CUB SHOOTING SPORTS TRAINING - Jim McCullars will be conducting a Cub Scout Shoorting Sports Training on Saturday, March 24 at the Goodloe Service Center in Huntsville from 10:00-1:00. Please contact Jim at the Huntsville Scout Shop at 256-880-1488 to register or for more information.

CUB ADVENTURE WEEKEND - April 20-22 and April 27-29. Sail the high seas at camp with your family at Camp Comer, Pirates Of Comer! We have exciting activities for ALL Cub Scouts, as well as the entire family. Your favorite activities are back and we’re added slingshots to the fun, with an adventure on the high seas theme. Sign up now so you don’t miss out on finding the bounty!. There will be an additional $25.00 late fee if registration is received less than one week prior to session date. Check in time starts Friday at 4:00 p.m. Check out is 11:00 a.m. Sunday. The cost is $58.00 per Cub and Partner, $80.00 for 2 Cubs and Partner and additional family members are $25.00 each, (Children 5 and under are free). Deadline is one week from date of each session. T-shirt for the Cub is included in the fee. Additional t-shirts are available for $10.00 each ($12.00 for 2x and 3X). For information contact Jeff Brasher at 1-205-970-0251 (X4257) or jbrasher@1bsa.org. Handicap accessible campsites are available for any families with special needs.

Eagle Scout Candidates! - Do you need an idea for your Eagle Scout Service Project? Jones Valley Urban Farm in Birmingham could be what you're looking for. They have lots of ideas and needs for worthwhile projects. Contact Bree Garrett at nutrition@jvuf.org for more information.Click Here for flyer

ATTENTION EAGLE SCOUTS

- The University of Evansville is offering UE Scouting Scholarships valued between $13,000-$16,500 a year. Candidates must have earned the Boy Scouting Eagle Rank, Venturing Silver Award or Sea Scouting Quartermaster Award. Candidates must visit the University of Evansville campus and have a high school GPA of at least 3.5 and score 1530 or higher on the SAT or 23 or higher on the ACT. This scholarship is renewable for four years with a UE GPA of at least 2.5. For more information visit www.evansville.edu or call 812-488-2829.

SUMMER CAMP 2012 - The 2012 Leader's Guides are posted on the website.REMINDER: A payment of $75 per Scout was due on February 11th.Weeks 1, 2, and 3 at Camp Sequoyah and Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 at Camp Comer are filled to capacity. If your troop has not yet signed up, click here for a reservation form.

On-Line class registration is scheduled to open the last week of March as follows: Week 1 - March 26; Week 2 - March 27; Week 3 - March 28; Week 4 - March 29; Week 5 - March 30; Week 6 - March 31. Login information was sent by e-mail on March 17th and 18th, along with invoices for those troops that have not yet made the first payment of $75 per Scout. If your troop has not received login information, please contact the Scout office at 205-970-0251.

NYLT 2012 - Two sessions of National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) will be offered this summer. Give your troop's youth leadership the skills they need to succeed. Click here for an information flyer or an application form. These are also available on the training page of the council website (www.1bsa.org).

HIGH ADVENTURE EXTRAVAGANZA - This year's High Adventure Extravaganza will be May 4-6 at Comer Scout Reservation. Planned activities include Rifle, Shotgun, Archery, Paintball target shooting, Climbing/Repelling, Mountain Biking, Geocaching, Canoeing, plus the first ever Camp Comer Clue game and a HAX Carnival. All Venturers, Explorers and Boy Scouts age 14 and over are welcome to attend. Registration is now open -- click here for more details.

NOTE FROM THE CAMPING VICE-PRESIDENT: "DON'T BE LEFT OUT!! While it seems that the 2012 summer camp at Camp Sequoyah and Camp Comer is a long way off, many troops have already reserved campsites at our camps. In fact, we are already above 70% of our capacity. As many of you know, Camp Comer was at, or slightly above, capacity in 2011. We want you to camp at either of our council camps. Please register and reserve your campsite quickly so that you and your troop do not get left out. We look forward to seeing you at camp."

NATIONAL JAMBOREE -- Planning is already underway for the 2013 National Jamboree. The Greater Alabama Council will send 108 Scouts and 12 Leaders to the first jamboree at the new permanent jamboree site.

- The University of Evansville is offering UE Scouting Scholarships valued between $13,000-$16,500 a year. Candidates must have earned the Boy Scouting Eagle Rank, Venturing Silver Award or Sea Scouting Quartermaster Award. Candidates must visit the University of Evansville campus and have a high school GPA of at least 3.5 and score 1530 or higher on the SAT or 23 or higher on the ACT. This scholarship is renewable for four years with a UE GPA of at least 2.5. For more information visit www.evansville.edu or call 812-488-2829.

HIGH ADVENTURE EXTRAVAGANZA - This year's High Adventure Extravaganza will be May 4-6 at Comer Scout Reservation. Planned activities include Rifle, Shotgun, Archery, Paintball target shooting, Climbing/Repelling, Mountain Biking, Geocaching, Canoeing, plus the first ever Camp Comer Clue game and a HAX Carnival. All Venturers, Explorers and Boy Scouts age 14 and over are welcome to attend. Registration is now open -- click here for more details.

CALLING ALL AWARD RECIPIENTS - The Venturing Officers' Association is seeking Venturers to be recognized at this year's first annual Venturing Recognition Reception on Saturday, May 19th at the Birmingham Scout Center. Qualified Venturers interested in being recognized for their success should e-mail Maddie Culwell at maddieculwell@ymail.com or call her at (205) 706-6289 as soon as possible with their name, crew number, and award(s) they wish to be recognized for earning.

NYLT 2012 - Two sessions of National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) will be offered this summer. Give your crew's youth leadership the skills they need to succeed. Click here for an information flyer or an application form. These are also available on the training page of the council website (www.1bsa.org).

NORTHERN TIER OPPORTUNITY - Venture Crew 2367 has a reservation for Northern Tier June 2012 We currently have 3 (three) spaces available for coed crewmembers. If you are interested you may contact Cal Alred 205-266-8386 or venturecrew2367@gmail.com

NATIONAL JAMBOREE -- Planning is already underway for the 2013 National Jamboree which will include Venturers for the first time. The Greater Alabama Council will send 8 Venturers and 2 Venture Leaders to the first jamboree at the new permanent jamboree site. Contingent cost is anticipated to be $1,500.Click here for more information.

VENTURING OFFICER ASSOCIATION (VOA) - The April VOA meeting will be Sunday, April 15th at 2:00 PM at Comer Scout Reservation. (NOTE LOCATION!) Each crew should send their Crew President, and another representative selected by the crew.

One of our continuing challenges is fulfilling the first goal of the GAC Fast Track program in our Youth Impact Plan: Have all adult volunteers trained.

Failure to meet this goal delays the registration process. For us, that impacts our unit commissioners and ultimately our units.

Youth Protection Training is available as an excellent online module at www.scouting.org. Click on the My Scouting tab to sign in with your user name and password. If you don’t have a user name or password, click on the “Create an account” button. In addition, I’ve attached a Youth Protection Training course summary as an attachment.

Your Day Camp directors and I had a great time at National Day Camp School this past weekend! We learned a lot about Day Camp so we can better serve you and your boys. I hope everyone is getting excited about camp!

The Scout Discount Card sale has been extended for two weeks. Contact me if you want more cards!

Let's keep pushing and get those Recharters done! If you have turned in your recharter but are still dropped, it is because your Recharter was defective and needs some additional information, etc. Please be patient as your commissioner staff and myself are working very hard on a very tall stack of defectives that is a result of many recharters being turned in at once.

4/14/12 LEADER SPECIFIC TRAINING – (TALAKTO)(N) Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leaders, come and learn the specifics of your position and how to deliver the scouting program in a manner which ensures that our scouts receive the best scouting possible! Where: Holy Spirit Catholic School, 619 Airport Road, Huntsville. Time: Starting times vary depending upon the class registered. Fee: 2.00 dollars. This training provides the information and resources to learn about the various leader specific positions within scouting. See the flyer for classes offered and their starting times - and then register on-line! Flyer: Basic Leader Training To Register: Help us 'Be Prepared' - Register On-Line Here!

4/13-15/12 WOOD BADGE 2012 - Greater Alabama Council will conduct two Wood Badge courses next year. The first will be S9-1-12-1 Friday/Saturday/Sunday April 13-15 and again April 27-29. The first weekend will be held at Camp Comer, and the second weekend at Camp Westmoreland. For information/registration go to:https://1bsa.org/tyfoon/site/fckeditor/file/Wood%20Badge%20Flyer-S9-1-12-1.pdf

4/20-22/12 CUB ADVENTURE - Session 1- Sail the high seas at camp with your family at Camp Comer, Pirates Of Comer! We have exciting activities for ALL Cub Scouts, as well as the entire family. Your favorite activities are back and we’re added slingshots to the fun, with an adventure on the high seas theme. Sign up now so you don’t miss out on finding the bounty! There will be an additional $25.00 late fee if registration is received less than one week prior to session date. Check in time starts Friday at 4:00 p.m. Check out is 11:00 a.m. Sunday. The cost is $58.00 per Cub and Partner, $80.00 for 2 Cubs and Partner and additional family members are $25.00 each, (Children 5 and under are free). Deadline is one week from date of each session. T-shirt for the Cub is included in the fee. Additional t-shirts are available for $10.00 each ($12.00 for 2x and 3X). For information contact Jeff Brasher at 1-205-970-0251 (X4257) orjbrasher@1bsa.org. Handicap accessible campsites are available for any families with special needs. Registration will open soon, but SAVE THESE DATES!

4/27-29/12 CUB ADVENTURE – Session 2 – See Session 15/3/12 JUST TALK WITH J.T. - 7 – 8 pm. St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (3310 Danville Rd SW, Decatur, Alabama 35603) New Greater Alabama Council Scout Executive J.T. Dabbs will be traveling around the Council to meet with its dedicated volunteers. We invite you to join us as he addresses your concerns, questions and success stories! Please see the schedule below. J.T. looks forward to seeing all who can attend! Can't make it to your area's meeting? Don't worry, you can attend at any location

5/26/12 CUB SHOOTING SPORTS TRAINING – (WESTMORELAND)(N) There will be a Cub Scout Shooting Sports Training from 9:00-12:00. This looks like it will be your last chance to get qualified in order to help out with Cub Scout Day Camp. To register or for more information, please contact Laurel Rickard at lrickard@comcast.net.

6/11-15/12 CUB SCOUT DAY CAMP – (ARROWHEAD)(N) The theme of this year’s Cub Scout Day Camp in Decatur will be “Knights of the Round Table”. We need your help promoting Day Camp! Two easy steps... (1) E-mail or call Denise Marco (marcod854@bellsouth.net or(256) 345-1896) with the date, time, and location of your Blue & Gold Banquet, Pinewood Derby, and February or March Pack meeting, and (2) include a 5 minute slot for us to come do a Day Camp presentation. We will begin planning our Day Camp in January. If you are interested in being part of our key staff or would like to offer input, please contact me. In addition to key staff, we are in need of 2 volunteers to attend National Day Camp School and someone to become Day Camp Director for 2013. To view the promotional video, go to: http://youtu.be/6it2NaAw0vU

7/27-28/12 MCWANE CENTER CAMP-IN – If you wanted to have your pack participate in one of the McWane Center Camp-Ins listed below and none of the dates worked for your unit or you need to have a fun activity so that your pack can qualify for the Pack Summertime Award, Laurel Rickard has arranged for this one. Just contact her for more information at lrickard@comcast.net.

Greetings Birmingham District!
I hope you al enjoyed the weekend. See below for a few of the upcoming events.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Cherokee District Camporee will take place at Tannehill Park March 9-10th. Scouts from the Birmingham District have been asked to participate. For more information, email aedwards@1bsa.org.

The McWane Center is hosting several Winter and Spring Camp-Ins for Scouts on February 17, 18, 24, 25, March 2, 3, 10, 30 and 31st. Cubs, Webelos, and Boy Scouts can sign up for Science, Astronomy, Engineering, Geology and much more. Click here for more info.

The Harlem Globetrotters will host a special event on March 20th at the Pete Hanna Center for all interested scouts. Please visit the "Harlem Globetrotters" section of today's Digital Eagle.

The Birmingham District Banquet will be held April 5, 2012 at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church beginning at 6pm. Our guest speaker for this event will be Mr. Cedric Sparks, Sr.. Executive Director for the Birmingham Mayor's, Division of Youth Services. Please RSVP tokjohnson@bsamail.org if you wish to attend.

Two Wood Badge Courses for leaders will be held next year. The first will be Friday/Saturday/Sunday April 13-15 and again April 27-29. But, if it is just too hard to get off work on Fridays, the fall course will be on a Saturday/ Sunday/ Monday in September, and then again in October.The first weekend of both courses will be held at Camp Comer, and the second weekend at Camp Westmoreland. Click here for information/registration flyer.

The Birmingham District Cub Scout Day Camp has been scheduled for June 4th-8th at Ruffner Mountain. The theme is Knights of the Roundtable. Early bird registration is only $66. Click here for a Day Camp registration form. To register as a volunteer or planning committee member, please contact Deborah Hudson.

First, I hope everyone is looking forward to our Spring Camporee which the theme is Klondike Derby. It will be happening this Friday Saturday and Sunday. We will be hosting this camporee with Choccolocco District so it will be a great chance to see some fresh faces at the camporee. I look forward to seeing everyone there and I have attached the leaders guide. Boy Scouts Click HereCub Scouts Click Here

Also if you are planning on selling Scout Discount Cards it is not too late to order yours. Just visit 1bsa.org and follow the links to the order page, hurry up because we do have a limited amount.

And our District Round Table will be April 12th this month and we will have a special guest, J.T. Dabbs, the new Scout Executive. So I encourage everyone to make it to this roundtable so that you can have to opportunity to meet with the new Scout Executive and ask any questions or voice any concerns you may have.

And if you have not yet turned in you recharters I urge to do so as quickly as possible so that we can get everything in order for this summer and summer camp.

The 2012 Cherokee District Camporee was held this past weekend. We had 100 youth participants in Camporee this year. The troops participated in the Camporee and all had a great experience. The scouts were challenged to show their mastery of scout skills by competing in a variety of games. Units used pioneering skills, engineering talent, teamwork and innovation to build ballista to launch a football into an open field. The Saturday evening campfire had lots of fun & laughs. Rick Timmons, Tom Booth, and Teresa Read from Troop 103 which hosted the event wants to extend a heartfelt thank you to ALL the volunteers who came together to make the camporee the success it was. Your contribution to the success of this year's program helps to instill these values into today's youth who will be tomorrow's leaders. Congratulation to all Troops!!!! Spirit Award goes to Troop 41Patch Design by Trevor Lambert Troop 41Camp site Award 1st Place troop 41, 2nd Place Troop 84, 3rd Place Troop 322Chili Cook-off 1st Place Troop 495 2nd Place tie Troop 41 and Troop 120 , 3rd Place Troop 45Camporee Games 1st Place Troop 103 UNO Patrol, 2nd Place Troop 120 , 3rd Place Troop 495

BALOO TRAINING AVAILABLE MARCH 10TH FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. IN CLEBURNE COUNTY. WE NEED A MINIMUM OF 10 PEOPLE TO HAVE THIS CLASS. COST IS $15 PER PARTICIPANT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE EMAIL ME IMMEDIATELY AT smiles@1bsa.org or Joey Hudginsatdaddy2plus2@yahoo.com.

Cherokee Boy Scout Leaders- Outdoor Merit Badge Day for the Shelby District will be held on March 31, 2012 at Oak Mountain State Park. Merit Badge registration is currentlyavailableonwww.meritbadge.info Make sure to pre-register for the event. Cost is $15, which includes lunch and a patch. Contact Keith Kennedy for more information, scoutcommissioner220@gmail.com

Day Camp for Cherokee District starts June 18-22, 8:30am – 4:00pm at Martin Luther King Park - Hueytown. If you would like a representative of Day Camp to come to your den meeting or Pack meeting to help field any questions the scout or parents might have please contact Anthony Edwards at aedwards@1bsa.org.

Day Camp Volunteers: We need walking den leaders, registration helpers and helpers. Please email Anthony Edwards at aedwards@1bsa.org. if you would like to help on June 18-22

Summer Camp…………. Space for summer camp is filling up quickly, and it’s filling up from out of council troops. Let’s make sure that everyone who wants to go to camp will get the opportunity to this summer.

Registration for the Woodbadge-Spring Session is open. Please register ASAP. We have to have a certain number of registrations on file to ensure that we can have the class. We need about 30 more registrations council-wide to ensure that this course goes. Please give me a call 205-441-5763 if you want to attend.

ANNOUNCEMENT: BOY SCOUTS AIR RIFLE COMPETITION SET FOR MAY 26TH AT THE CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM LOCATION IN OXFORD. OPEN TO ALL BOY SCOUTS (No Cubs at this event). REGISTRATION WILL BEGIN AT 8:00 A.M. WITH THE COST OF THE EVENT TO BE $10. TROPHIES WILL BE AWARDED IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: DIVISION 1 (SCOUT, TENDERFOOT, SECOND CLASS), DIVISION 2 (FIRST CLASS/STAR), DIVISION 3 (LIFE/EAGLE), AND OVER-ALL. A PATCH WILL BE GIVEN TO ALL PARTICIPANTS AND PIZZA WILL BE SERVED. A FLIER WILL BE OUT FOR REGISTRATION BY NEXT WEEK. THIS IS A PRE-REGISTER EVENT. ENCOURAGE SECOND YEAR WEBELOS TO CROSS OVER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT.

Our next focus is coming up next month. March 23-25, 2012 is our Spring Camporee. The location is set for Camp Sequoyah. Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts can both camp at this event. Cubs will camp separate from the Boy Scouts and will participate in separate events. Webelos can participate as Boy Scouts for the purpose of this camporee. The leadership guides are attached for the Boys and the Cubs. Please use the appropriate guide. If you want to volunteer to help with the Cub Activities, please let me know ASAP. We will have shooting sports open for the cubs for this event. Cost of the Camporee will be $10 per person that camps. If you are a cub unit coming out for day of only, the cost will be $5. A patch will be available for all that participate. This is open to all scouts (Boys and Cubs). Remember if you have cubs camping, their parent must camp with them. NO EXCEPTION!!!!!!!!!

The Birmingham Barons baseball night has been set for Saturday, May 5th, 2012. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Camping will be allowed at this event. Please see the attached flier for all of the specifics dealing with the different packages (Grand Slam Package-Camping, hotdog, coke, light breakfast and patch is $10. Home Run Package-game only and patch is $6). Please see the attached flier for all of the details.

Cub Adventure has been scheduled for April 20-22 and April 27-29. This will be at Camp Comer in Mentone.

Summer Camp-Alright guys, here it is for Summer Camp 2012. We have weeks 4-5 left at Sequoyah and Weeks 4-5 at Comer. If you have not pre-registered yet, please do not wait any longer. Remember, if you are going to summer camp a $75 deposit per scout was due on February 11th. The second payment is due on April 15th. Your final payment is due 30 days prior to you going to camp. Leader's Guides will be out the first week of February. Look out for it. Let's get the kids out there to summer camp and fulfill the promise that we made to them.

For My Venturing units out there May 4-6th there will be a High Adventure Xtreme weekend. Get that on your calendars so that you will be ready for it. A flier is attached for this event.

Registration for the Woodbadge-Spring Session is open. If you want to go to this, please register ASAP. We have to have a certain number of registrations on file to ensure that we can have the class.

For my Order of the Arrow members, NOAC has been set for July 30th-August 4th. If you are interested in going to this, please contact Vince Lambert at vlambert@1bsa.org and he can pass you the information. If you are interested in working on the Order of the Arrow staff for the 2013 National Jamboree, please contact Joey Kiker atjkiker@1bsa.org.

Day Camp is just around the corner. The dates are set for June 11-15, 2012 at Jacksonville State University. This is a twilight camp from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We need volunteers guys. If you are interested in volunteering for day camp, contact me at smiles@1bsa.org. We will have a district turn in party for all day camp applications. Keep a look out for more information dealing with this.

The next District Committee meeting is set for April 19th at Strut's in Oxford. Please make note of this new date if you are on the district committee. It will be at 6:00 p.m. I will be sending out an email soon to let you know if you are supposed to be at this meeting.

The next Round Table is on April 5th at 6:45 p.m. We have a great program lined up that night guys. Out new Scout Executive, JT Dabbs, will be in attendance for a brief presentation. Come out and support him. The roundtable is at the Anniston LDS Church in Anniston on Lenlock Lane.

Please print out your Journey to Excellence forms for 2012. Go tohttp://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards/JourneyToExcellence.aspx, print off the unit form. All units need to start focusing on the 2012 forms. We are going to hold a class on this, outside of the roundtable setting, so that we can all get a better understanding of the requirements. Look for that date. We need you to get familiar with the forms before this date so you can start working towards the goals.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN DISTRICT PINEWOOD DERBY OPEN TO ALL CUBSOpen registration, $5.00 to enter. All Cub Scouts are welcome to join us for a day of racing in Lookout Mountain. The District Pinewood Derby is Saturday, March 17th, hosted by Pack 777, at Crosspoint Church in Gadsden. Located off I-759, diagonally across from Gadsden City High School. You do not have to place in your Unit Derby to compete. All cars must be made in 2012, and conform to the Council Competition Guidelines. Click Here

CUB ADVENTURE WEEKENDApril 20-22 and April 27-29. Sail the high seas at camp with your family at Camp Comer, Pirates Of Comer! We have exciting activities for ALL Cub Scouts, as well as the entire family. Check out the Cub Scout Section Above.

CUB SCOUT DAY CAMP – TWO IN LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN DISTRICTNoccalulla Falls – June 4th through June 8th Fort Payne Fairgrounds June 18th through June 22nd

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN DISTRICT AWARDS DINNER MARCH 13Collinsville, First United Methodist Church, located on Hwy 11. Join us at 6:30 pm for food and fellowship.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN ANNUAL CALENDAR PLANNING SESSION APRIL 10We will have a Planning session on April 10th at the Collinsville Library to confirm the rest of 2012, and plan the calendar for 2013. If you want to be involved in identifying when items are placed on the calendar, and/or want to host an event, you need to be at this meeting, and/or have some representation. This is your district calendar, you need to be a part of the planning. I look forward to having all our units and district committee members at this meeting..

RECHARTERINGIt Is that time of year. Recharters are due. If you have not received your Recharter Packet, please contact Michael Wells. We need to be timely in getting these in. Make sure you contacting all the scouts on your recharter and trying to re-engage any youth who have stopped participating.

ORDER OF THE ARROW ELECTIONSEach Troop in our District should have elections once each calendar year. We would like to go ahead and schedule your 2012 election. If we are able to conduct your elections prior to the Spring Camporee, we will be able to have a call out ceremony, and the candidates will be able to attend the ordeal May 18-20. Please contact our Chapter Advisor, Marty Jones, to schedule an election team to visit a meeting in the very near future. Marty Jones, almjj@yahoo.com.

***Those units who have not turned in their recharter paperwork need to do so immediately. This is very important. Please bear in mind that, once your troop/pack/team/crew drops, you will be unable to register for events and will not be covered by liability insurance until the paperwork is filled out properly and turned in. Thank you for your immediate attention***

The District Camporee will be held March 30-April 1 at Camp Comer. This will be a combined camporee with the Lookout Mountain District and will be hosted by our very own Kosati Chapter of the Order of the Arrow Coosa Lodge. Thanks for all your hard work in planning this camporee! We look forward to seeing lots of scouts there. See the attached packet for more information. Click Here

I am excited to announce that our district banquet location will be at the Order of the Arrow lodge at Camp Jackson in Scottsboro! This will be Thursday, April 5, at 6:30 pm. Hope to see you there. There will be no roundtable at Henryville First United Methodist in Claysville that night.

Pack 82 in Grant hosted the district pinewood derby on March 10. Thank you to Pack 82 and all who came and congrats to all the boys who worked hard on their cars! It was a very fun event.

**UNIT LEADERS…Do Not Forget to get your completed recharters in to the Greater Alabama Council Office. Contact Terri Gregson or John Giddens (jmgidden@southernco.com or 205-542-0983) if you have any questions regarding your recharter.**COURT OF HONOR and BLUE AND GOLD BANQUETSPlease communicate your next scheduled Court of Honor with Larry Walck, Shelby District Family Friends of Scouting Chairman,larry.a.walck@gmail.com or Cell 205-532-1568.

**MARK YOUR CALENDARS**• ***Scouting for food for the Shelby District is on Saturday, April 14. Drop off is 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Shelby County Salvation Army Headquarters. Additional information contact:Dennis Rollins; troop20@charter.net; 617-7936.

• ***Shelby District Day Camp will be June 4 – 8 at Oak Mountain State Park. More information will follow. Please start your Pack preparations to sign up for Day Camp. We will need more people to help run different programs. For more information please contact Chris Duryea, Cub Scout Day Camp Director, cjduryea@gmail.com ; Greg McGill, Webelos Day Camp Director, n4pap@charter.net ; Tanya Lusco, Cub Scout Day Camp Program Director, lusco003@aol.com; or Rhonda Byrd, Webelos Day Camp Program Director,rpbyrd100@gmail.com; Registration deadline is April 30, 2012. Click Here

• OLS will be in May. OLS will be at Brierfield State Park in Montevallo. Click Here. Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training Click Here is on Saturday April 21st at Riverchase Church of Christ. Contact Matt Owen for more information, MOwen@BrasfieldGorrie.com

• Event: Camp Tranquility Workday, Where: Camp Tranquility – Oak Mountain State Park, Website: www.camptranquility.net (for more information), When: Saturday 3/31 9:00 am till ??, What: Service work on the roads to clear the culverts and ditches as well as spreading Crusher Run in places to prevent road washout (Also there will be work on the Old Unit Lodge at Camp Tranquility – we need as many carpenters as possible to help us shore up the front wall of the structure – remove the roof and replace it. This will be an Adults only function and we need as many able bodied volunteers to assist. When complete this lodge with a fireplace and grille will house 40+ Scouts for any event.), Who: Any Boy Scout, Venturer, Arrowman or Scout Leader, What to Bring: Gloves; Work Clothes; Shovels; Wheelbarrows; Pruners; Lunch & Drinks, Rewards: Each Scout and Leader participating will receive a special “Service Crew” patch for the event. Also can use the hours toward School Service & Scout Rank Service Hours., RSVP: Larry Faulkner at campmoreland@gmail.com , Larry Faulkner, President, Camp Tranquility , Preservation Foundation, 205-540-0954 cell, campmoreland@gmail.com

Hey, the new camp directors (Chris Duryea, Greg McGill) and program director (Rhonda Byrd) along with our D.E. Terri Gregson, attended the National Camping School this past weekend. We made new friends, learned a lot, and came back ready to put on the best Day Camp ever!! See ya this summer!

We had a great Pinewood Derby on Saturday March 17th! I want to thank all the volunteers that came out on Friday and Saturday to help setup and run the race. A big Thank you, to our Pinewood Derby Chairman this year, Shannon Wanca! You did a fantastic job putting it together and getting the Volunteers scheduled. I also want to thank Dianna O'Dell, Molly King, and Jim Charlton as well.

Pack 7412, THANK YOU for allowing the District to use your Track this year, and suppling volunteers to run it as well. You saved the day by coming through, and I thank you along with Cub Scouts and the Parents.

Fee: Early Bird Discount @ $66.00 per Scout (To qualify for the Early Bird Discount ALL fees MUST have been received by a Council Service Center by May 21, 2012. No exceptions!) $90.00 per Scout AFTER May 21st.

Big! Thanks! to Mechell Malone, Jon, Bill and Trey for organizing a Great District Banquet. The food was great, and the Keynote Speaker J.T. Dabbs delivered the Scouting Story. Well done to all who earned awards and recognition. See you next year.!!

Three Rivers Derby Winners

Best of Show:

Ben Young (Wolf), Pack 53

Tigers:

Riley Corbert, Pack 216 - 1st

Ian Mann, Pack 14 - 2nd

Caleb Crumpton, Pack 134 - 3rd

Wolves:

Brock Bennett, Pack 275 - 1st

Mark Allison, Pack 66 - 2nd

James Summers, Pack 121 - 3rd

Bear:

Anthony Zito, Pack 134 - 1st

Matt AntKowiak, Pack 216 - 2nd

Nicholas Burgin, Pack 845 - 3rd

Web / AOL:

Josh McCoy, Pack 100 - 1st

Alex Howell, Pack 14 - 2nd

John Hancock Jr., Pack 100 - 3rd

Overall:

Jon McLendon Jr. (AOL), Pack 100 - 1st

Jake Knight (AOL), Pack 100 - 2nd

Dominic Zito (Tiger), Pack 134 - 3rd

Troop 212 would like to thank the men and woman at Southern Skin Divers Supply for the great day of instruction and introduction to scuba diving..

***VULCAN DAYCAMP*** We have big news in the Daycamp program. After many years of service, Roger Etherington is going to help the Council with Daycmap and Vulcan will have a new director. We want to thank Roger for his many years of dedicated service to Vulcan.

We are excited to announce that Richard Duhon and Hannelore Melville will be the Camp Directors this year, and Kristin Massie and Kimberly Cook will serve as the Program Directors this year. We have a committee that is already planning Daycamp. They have big shoes to fill, but they are excited about building on the foundation and offer a new, exciting program this year. If you would like to be involved please contact one of the directors or Doug. Each Pack will be hearing a lot more about this soon.

***Vulcan Cub Shooting Day will be May 5th at the Civilain Markmanship Range in Anniston. This range offers Olympic quality facilities. Flyer and registration will be on the website next week.

***A note from Joe Swaika, District School Night for Scouting Chairman,-Scout Leaders,It is not too early to be thinking about recruiting for this August. If your Unit has a summer program, then this Spring is a great time to get in front of the graduating Kindergarteners and other grades to get them excited about Scouting and into Daycamp. Also, it is not too early to get on the school’s calendar to schedule August's School Night for Scouting. If you need help recruiting please don't hesitate to contact me. Joe Swaika, jswaika@yahoo.com

***Eagle Boards- Every unit would benefit from participating in the Eagle Boards. Contact George Taylor for more information. Congratulations to all of Vulcans 2012 Eagles. Our newest Eagles are:

***Vulcan is on Facebook! The facebook group link is Vulcan District, Greater Alabama Council, BSA. This is going to be a good tool to keep up on the latest District news.

***Philmont Training Center Scholarship Available - Vulcan Adult Scout Leaders who want to attend the Philmont Training Center can apply for the Robert F Calhoun Philmont Training Center Scholarship. I am still waiting on the revised form, as soon as it is provided it will be distributed.

***OA Chapter- Nunne-Hi-Vulcan OA is on Facebook- “Nunne-Hi Chapter of the Coosa Lodge”-District OA Meetings - OA meetings are held the last Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM at the Briarwood Scout House. Both former and current arrowmen of any lodge are invited to attend. Questions: Brett Melton, brett@imtheguy.co

***Congratulations again to all of the winners from our Pinewood Derby race.

To schedule a Project Review or Eagle Board, email the Westmoreland District Eagle Boardat EagleBoard@WestmorelandDistrict.com with your Name, Troop #, Email and Phone Number that youmaybe reached at. Also, state if it is a Project Review or Eagle Board and give a brief Description of your proposed project including the sponsor and the physical location.

District EmailI would like to ask everyone to to encourage your parents to sign up for the district email by going to westmorelanddistrict.com.

Pinewood Derby is April 21 at Regency Square Mall. Registration will beigin at 7:30 A.M.

If you have a Blue & Gold Banquet scheduled for this week please let me know.

Cub Adventure Weekend is April 20-21 and April 27-28 at Camp Comer. Further information can be found on the council's website.